Pages

Tuesday, 10 September 2013

In Bruges

When a hit goes horribly wrong
for a newbie trigger man Ray (Colin Farrell), he and his colleague Ken (Brendan
Gleeson) are ordered by their mob boss Harry (Ralph Fiennes) to pack their bags
and head of too Bruges and lay low. Waiting for further instructions they have
to blend in and play the part of typical tourists in Belgium. However the guilt
and heartache of his first hit going horribly wrong, Ray has to deal with his
actions.

After films like Oliver Stone’s
2004 Alexander and Michael Mann’s 2006 Miami Vice, honestly I thought Farrell's
film career will never see the light of day again. Sad because I really thought
he had a shot after an intense role of Joel Schumacher’ 2002 Phone booth that I
honestly thought deserved more recognition. In Bruges is a film full of
brilliantly witty dialogue with an effective combination of dark comedy,
thriller and crime that create such a weirdly enjoyable melancholic atmosphere.

Throughout the duration of their
stay in Bruges the film shows the two walking aimlessly around. Pondering about
how they will past the time. Their journey around the city becomes a continuous
running gag of insulting each other and bickering. Ken enjoys the world most preserved
medieval town by becoming a tourist and blends in just fine. Ray feels
otherwise and thinks it’s an extremely boring place and feels he has been
marooned in a shithole. However being stuck in one of the world’s most unspoiled
medieval town, full of snooty Canadians and bulky Americans and a drug fuelled
fascist dwarf is undoubtedly going to be full of giggles. What I admire most
about In Bruges is the emotional ammunition it has to make you cry with sadness
and at the same time make you laugh out loud.

The more we adventure around Bruges with Ray and
Ken the more we discover that Ray’s cracking jokes and being the world’s worst
tourist is a front to what he is really hiding within. In Bruges is a fantastic
slow burning crime drama with hints of humour which creates a great pace for
moments of heartfelt sadness and humour. Even though Farrell's film career
seemed to be on a hiatus, his performance in In Bruges is certainly a comeback
film that pushed him back into the spotlight. In Bruges is not your typical
shoot’em up film but rather an oddly moving and hilarious road trip to Bruges
that turns into a story of a mournful epiphany and acceptance.